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Dakoda Dowd Qualifies for US Girls Junior

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PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. -- Dakoda Dowd, the 13-year-old who captured worldwide attention by playing in an LPGA tournament earlier this season, qualified Tuesday for a spot in the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.

Dowd, of Palm Harbor, Fla., shot an even-par 72 at a sectional qualifier played at the 6,234-yard Braelinn Golf Club, sharing medalist honors and claiming one of five spots into the field. It was the first time Dowd tried to qualify for any U.S. Golf Association championship event.

The Girls' Junior -- one of 13 USGA national championships -- will be played July 17-22 at the Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.

'It feels good. I'm really excited,' Dowd said. 'I'm looking at the application right now and the place looks really nice.'

Dowd was invited into the LPGA Ginn Open in April after tournament organizers heard the story of her mother Kelly Jo, who has bone and liver cancer and said she wanted to see her daughter play one time against the best female golfers in the world. Dowd shot rounds of 74 and 82 at the Ginn, missing the cut.

Earlier this season, she captured the Florida state title -- even though she was playing in the 16- to 18-year-old division.